Carton with top handle



Aug. 18, 1959 Filed April 11, 1958 FIG. I

S. J. LEONE CARTON WITH TOP HANDLE .3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LVATORE J.LEONE ATTO NEYS Aug. 18, 1959 5, J, LEONE 2,900,124

' CARTON WITH TOP HANDLE Filed April 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I25 I24I23 INVENTOR SALVATORE J. LEONE ATT Aug. 18, 1959 s. J. LE6NE 2,900,124

CARTON WITH TOP HANDLE Filed April 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 us @Q i I Il i I IIHI 7 INVENTOR SALVATORE J. LEONE United States Patent CARTONWITH TOP HANDLE Application April 11, 1958, Serial No. 727,965 7 9Claims. (Cl. 22952) This invention relates to cartons, formed ofpaperboard or like material, and is concerned more particularly with topconstructions for folding cartons, by which a top and handle are formedwhen a carton is erected.

The new construction is useful for cartons having rectangular bodies andprovides, for such cartons, an improved top structure, comprising a topand a carrying handle, which are formed automatically when the carton iserected. The new carton may be formed of a single piece of board gluedto form a flat tube, and flaps attached to the end of the tube fold,when the tube is squared, to become parts of a top and parts of ahandle. The flaps forming the top and handle are so arranged that, whenthe carton is erected, the top flaps automatically fold over the top ofthe carton body. and the handle flaps automatically form an uprightcarrying handle.

In the new carton, four top flaps are attached to respective side wallsof a rectangular carton body and the top flaps are arranged in pairswith flaps of the respective pairs being attached to adjacent sidewalls. Handle flaps are attached to the top flaps and the handle flapsattached to' the top flaps of a pair are glued together, so that eachpair of top flaps has attached thereto a glued pair of handle flaps. Thehandle flaps are attached to the respective top flaps along lines which,when the carton is erected, extend diagonally across the top of thecarton.

In one form of the new carton each pair of top flaps includes a flapwhich, in the erected carton, at least partially overlies a flap of theother pair, and the overlying flap of a pair and the handle flapsattached to that pair lie on the same side of the other pair of handleflaps. In a second form of the new carton each pair of top flapsincludes an overlying flap, but the overlying flap and the handle flapsattached thereto lie on opposite sides of the other pair of handlefiaps.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank used in making one form of the newcarton;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a tube formed by folding and gluing theblank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, showing themanner in which the tube of Fig. 2 is erected to form a carton;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of an erected carton formed with the blankof Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank used in making a second form of thenew'carton;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a tube formed by folding and gluing theblank of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the manner in' which the tube of Fig. 7 iserected to form a carton; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are plan and elevational views, re-

Patented Aug. 18, 1959 spectively, of an erected carton formed with theblank 01 Fig. 6.

The carton of Figs. 1-5, incl., is made from a blank 10'divided bylongitudinal creases 11, 12 and transverse creases 13-15, incl., intofour connected side walls 1649, incl., and one of the walls at an end ofthe blank, such as wall 16, may be provided with a glue area 20 alongone edge while a Wall 19 at the other end of the blank has a glue flap21 attached along a crease 22. In the illustrated blank, the respectiveside walls 16-19 are provided along their bottom edges with bottom flaps23-26, respectively, which may be folded to form a carton bottom. Itshould be understood, however, that the described bottom constructionforms no part of the present invention and that any constructionappropriate for the purpose may be employed.

Attached to the top edges of the respective side walls 1619 are topflaps 27-30, incl., of generally triangular shape, and the top flaps arearranged in pairs 27, 28 and 29, 30 with the respective flaps of a pairattached to adjacent side walls 16, 17 or 18, 19. The flaps 27, 29 aresubstantially identical and, in the illustrated carton construction,each flap is a right triangle with an area equal to about one-quarter ofthe cross-sectional area of the canton body and with a hypotenuse formedby the top edge of one of the side walls 16, 13. The flaps 28, 30 arealso substantially identical and are generally in the form of righttriangles, each having an area equal to about half the cross-sectionalarea of the carton body and a hypotenuse of the length of a diagonalbetween opposite corners of the top of the carton body. The flaps 27, 28of one pair have edges defined by creases 31, 32 which lie at angles tothe crease 12 and meet at a point 33 where the creases 12, 13 intersect,the creases31, 32 including between them an angle 34 of about Similarly,the flaps 29, 30 of the other pair have edges defined by creases 35, 36meet ing at a point 37 where creases 12, 15 intersect and includingbetween them an angle 38 of about 90.

A pair of handle flaps 39, 40 of generally trapezoidal shape and of thesame size lie in the included angle between creases 31, 32 and areconnected together along a crease line 13, which is a prolongation ofthe crease line 13. The base of the flap 39 is longer than half thelength of a diagonal line across the top of the carton and isconnectedto a side edge of flap 27 along the crease 31, and the base offlap 40 is likewise longer than half the length of a diagonal lineacross the top of the carton and is connected to a side edge of flap 28along the crease 32. A pair of handle flaps 41, 42 of the sametrapezoidal shape and size as flaps 39, 40 lie in the included anglebetween creases 35 and 36 and have bases, which are longer than half thelength of a diagonal of the top of the carton and are connected to sideedges of flaps 29, 30, respectively, along creases 35, 36. Flaps 39, 40are connected together along a crease 15', which is a prolongation ofcrease 15. One of the handle flaps 39, 41 of each pair is provided inits central portion with a semi-circular cut-out 43, 44, while the otherflap 40, 42 of each pair is provided with a semi-circular cut 45, 46 anda crease 47, 48 forming a semi-circular tab 49, 50. The locations of thetabs 49, 50 on the handle flaps 40, 42 correspond to the locations ofthe cut-outs or openings 43, 44 on the flaps 39, 41.

To convert the blank of Fig. 1 into a carton, the blank is first foldedon the crease 15, 15 to bring the walls 18, 19 face to face, and thenalong the crease 13, 13' to bring the walls 16, 17 face to face. Theglue area 20 is aflixed to the glue flap 21 and the blank thus foldedand glued forms a flat tube, as shown in Fig. 2. The respective handleflaps of each pair are also glued together 3 by glue applied .to,thehandle fiaps 39, 41 and, when this is done, the top flap o each epais nne tedto h 19 edges of adjacent side walls are connected by a pair ofhandle flaps glued face to face.

The tube of Fig. -2 .is erecte by pressing the creases 13, 15 towardeach other to square the side walls 1619 and .form acarton bodyofsubstantially square ,crosssection. Asthe Walls 16.19 are squared, thepairs ,of ,top flaps 27, 28 and 29, 30 are drawn fiatacross the ,top ofthe carton body and, when the carton is fullyerected, the creases 31, 32and 35, 36 lie substantially in a plane across the top of .thecartonbody and along a line extending diagonally from one corner ofthe ,topofthe carton to theopposite corner.

In the erected carton, the top flaps 27 30 form a closed top and .thelarger flap 2.8, 30 ofeach pair overlies the smaller .flap 29, 27 of theother pair. Also, in the erection of the carton, the connected handleflaps 39, 40 pass over a side edge of the flap 29 to overlie that flapand the connected handle .flaps41, 42 pass .over a side edge of the topflap 27 to overlie .that flap. Accordingly, in the erected carton, thepairs of handle flaps lie in registry so that one of the tabs 49, 50 maybe pushed through the openings 43, 44 to lock the flaps together.

To assure that, when the carton is being erected, the pairs of handleflaps will pass each other without interference, the top flaps may be soshaped ordimensioned that the pairs of handle flaps move in planesslightly offset from the plane including the creases .13, 15. By way ofexample only, this may be accomplished ;by making the acuteanglesincluded between creases .12, 31 and 12, 35 slightly larger thanthose included betweenrcreases 12, 32 and 12, 36.

The erected carton with the bottom flaps closed is substantially asshown inrFig. 4, and tfhepairs of handle flaps form a handle oftrapezoidal shape extending diagonally across the top of the cartonbody. To facilitate stacking the erected cartons, the creases 31, 32 and35, 36

may be partly scored or slit, sothat the handleflaps hinge along an edgeof the wall 117.

Attached to the top edges of the walls 1171-120 are pairs of top :flaps127,128 and 129, 130, the flaps 128, 130 being generally inthe form of.right triangles having their hypotenuses on the crease 11, and .the,flaps 127,

"129 being similarly shaped and arranged except for the additionalportions 127a, 129a thereof, which extend beyond the right-triangularoutline. .Adjacentfidges of flaps of the respective .pairs are definedby creases 131, 132 and 133, 134 meeting at .the .pointsof intersectionof creases 11:1, 113 and 111, 115, respectively. Creases 131, 132include between themanangleof about 90 as do creases 133, 134.

Pairs .of handle flaps 135, 136 and .137, .138 are attached to therespective pairs of top flaps along creases 131-134, incl., and thehandle flaps are of generally trapezoidal shape and have portionsprojecting beyond edges of the top flaps. The creases 131133 are partlyscored, to facilitate hinging of the handleflaps, and the creases 131,133 areextended by cuts ,139, 140. The handle flaps of the respectivepairs are joined along creases 1'13, 115 forming extensions of creases113, 115, and the central portions of flaps 13 5, 137 are pro- ,videdwith semiircul c -ou s 1 4 114 While semicirculantabs 143, 14,4areprovidedin the central portions of flaps-136, 138.

To convertthe blanlcof Eig. 6,into a, carton, theblank .is folded .alongcreases ;115, 11310 form a tube, the

\glue fl 2 i aifixed to th e it Ja s? 1 7; fil th handle flap fp rh repect te air ar 1PQS1-iPg 1JQ -R 4 glue on surfaces of the flaps 135,137. The tube thus formed is shown in Fig. 7 and may be opened bypressing the creases 113, toward each other to square the side walls117-120. As the side walls move apart, the pairs of top flaps are foldedautomatically over the top of the carton body and the projectingportions 127a, 129a of the flaps 127, 129 overlie portions of flaps 130,128, respectively.

Drawing thetop flapsacro ss the top of the carton body causes the pairsof handle flaps to be drawn downward, substantially in a plane includingthe creases 113, 115, until the flaps overlap side by side with theirbases in .the plane of the top, and the overlapping pairs of handleflaps form a handle of generally trapezoidal shape extending diagonallyacross the top of the carton. The respective cutouts 141, 142 and tabs143, 144 then lie in registry and one of the tabs may be pushedtransversely through the cut-outs to interlock the pairs of handleflaps.

As illustrated in Figs. ,8 and 9, the pairs ,of top and handle flaps areso arranged that, in the erected carton, the overlying flap 12.7 or 129of a pair and the handle flaps attached to that pair lie on oppositesides of the otherpair of handle flaps. Thus, the respective flaps maybe so shaped or dimensioned that, as the handle flaps are drawn downwardover the carton body, the handle flaps attached to one pair of top flapstravel in a plane offset slightly toward the overlying flap of the otherpair of top flaps. When the carton is partly erected, as shown in Fig..8, .the handle flaps are received .in thecuts 139, .140 to permit thehandle and top flaps to pass vwithout interference.

Both of the described forms of the invention are char acterized by anovel construction including top and handleflaps arranged, when the sidewalls squared, ,to fold automatically to form a closed top and acarrying handle. In addition, .partsof respective pairs of handle flaps,may be interengaged to lock the top and handle flaps in a desiredmanner. V

:I claim:

1. A carton having a .top and a handle, comprising side walls connectedtogether to form a body of rectangular cross-section, .top flapsattached to the upper edges of respective side walls, each vflappartially closing the upper end of the :body and all the flaps having anedge lying along a common diagonal .line extending across the end of thecarton from one corner to the opposite corner, a pair of handle flapsconnected together along a fold line and having edges longer than halfthe length of the diagonal line and connected to said diagonal edges ofrespective top =flaps hinged .to a .pair of adjacent side walls, thehandle flaps lying face to 'face and substantially at right anglestotheir associated .top ifiaps, and a second pair of handle flapsconnected together along a fold line and having edges longer than halfthe length of the diagonal line and connected to said .diagonal edges ofrespective top flaps hinged to .the remaining pair of adjacent sidewalls, the handle flaps of the second pair lying face to face andparallel to and in registry withthe handle of the first pair.

2. The carton ofclaim l, in which one handle flap of each pair isprovided with an opening andthe other handle flap of the pair isprovided with atab insertable into the opening, and the openings andtabs of the handle flaps of the two pairs lie in registry.

3. The carton of claim 1, in which one ,top flap of each pair at leastpartly overlies a top flap of the other palr.

4. The carton of claim 3, in which the overlying flaps are triangular inshape, and each overlying flap covers substantially one half of the toparea of the carton body.

5-. The carton of claim 1, in which one top flap of each pair at leastpartly overlies a top flap of the other pair, and the overlying flap ofeach pair and the handle flaps attached thereto lie on opposite s'idesof the handle flaps attachedto the overlying 'flap of the other pair.

6. The carton of claim 5, in which the overlying top flap of each pairis joined to a handle flap along a crease, each such crease is extendedby a cut, and each cut between a handle flap and a top flap receivesparts of the handle flaps connected to the other pair of top flaps.

7 A carton, which comprises side walls connected together to form a bodysquare in cross-section, flap means for closing the lower end of thebody, top flaps arranged in pairs with the flaps of one pair connectedto the top edges of two adjacent side walls and the flaps of the otherpair connected to the top edges of the other two adjacent side walls,the top flaps of each pair closing approximately half the upper end ofthe carton body at one side of a diagonal and one flap of each pairsubstantially overlapping a flap ofthe other pair, and a pair of handleflaps connected to the adjacent edges of the top flaps of each pair andsecured face to face, the pairs of handle flaps lying along a commondiagonal lying across the top of the body and in registry.

8. The carton of claim 3, in which the overlying top flap of eadh pairand the handle flaps attached thereto lie at the same side of the otherpair of handle flaps.

9. A blank for a carton, which comprises a series of four side wallpanels connected side by side along crease lines, a glue flap connectedto the panel at one end of the series, flap means for closing the lowerend of the carton connected to the lower ends of the panels, a pair oftop flaps connected along fold lines to the upper edges of a pair ofadjacent side wall panels, each of the top flaps being of a size toclose at least one-quarter of the upper end of the carton side wallswhen connected together to form a body of rectangular cross-section andone of the top flaps being of greater area than the other, a sec- 0ndpair of top flaps of the same shape and size as re- References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,805,791 Arneson Sept.10, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 833,517 France Jan. 15, 1941

